This is how photovoltaic energy evolves
It appears that, in the near future, renewable energy-based technologies such as solar and wind power have a chance to overtake traditional fossil fuels in terms of use. I mention the Photovoltaic Solar Energy and wind (See what is the role of wind energy in the world) because these seem to be more visible than other types of renewable energy. In reality, two realities are revealed: the revolution in the energy sector is driving a rapid change towards a future of renewable energy and another, in which the general transition is not moving with the necessary speed in many countries, although the prospects they are positive.
This week, the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF) has published the annual report 2022 with the title of "2017: the beginning of a new era for the photovoltaic sector" and the truth is, on few occasions we can enjoy a report in Spanish that deals with the renewable sector in detail.
So we have taken the opportunity to extract the most interesting graphs and visual data to understand the current evolution of the energy sector both globally, in Europe and in Spain.
Evolution of photovoltaic energy worldwide
In this new world scenario that undoubtedly benefits the environment, the big loser will be coal, whose generation potential will fall in all countries.
It is estimated that in 2040 fossil fuels will only represent 50%, once the large plants end their useful life and are replaced by less polluting and cheaper sources, such as renewables.
Therefore, we will be facing an increasingly competitive market based on a constant reduction in costs and with a great concentration of investment in renewable energies.
Bloomberg says that renewable energy is developing at a much higher rate than experts predicted and that it will foreseeably phase out coal as an energy source sooner than expected. Estimates are that solar energy already competes in terms of cost with new coal plants in highly developed countries, such as the US or Germany.
The growth of the photovoltaic sector worldwide in 2022 was more than 30% higher than in 2016 and it is expected that in 2022 and in the coming years the path of sustained and sustainable growth will continue in view of the consolidation of already consolidated markets that continue to bet on a change in the energy model:
At a global level, we can also compare data from the Renewables 2022 Global Status Report issued by REN21.
Photovoltaic energy evolution in Europe
If we consider the total photovoltaic power installed throughout Europe, almost nothing has changed compared to the previous year. Germany and Italy are leaders, operating with more than half of the total solar photovoltaic power generation in Europe:
In the following map we can see the disparity between European countries regarding accumulated photovoltaic power (GW):
Although there are countries that will have to accelerate these last two years if they want to reach their commitments (Goal of 20% renewables in the energy mix by 2022), as is the case of Spain, France, the Netherlands or United Kingdom among others.
In 2016, EU GHG emissions, including emissions from international aviation and indirect CO2 emissions, decreased by 22.4% compared to 1990 levels. Thus, the EU is expected to exceed its target Europe 2022 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2022.
Evolution of photovoltaic energy in Spain
Wind energy has become the main renewable source in the Spanish economy from 2008 to the present, reaching a peak, such as that of 2022, of 56.7% of the total.
In 2022 there was a decrease in generation with renewable energy, especially due to the decrease in hydraulic production in the face of a dry year plus an increase in photovoltaic generation, which has caused the percentage of coverage with photovoltaic solar generation over the total of the renewable generation has increased from 7.9% to 9.9% compared to 2016.
How can you test in the following graph, although Spain is one of the countries with the most hours of sunshine in all of Europe. Since 2012 there has been a stagnation in the generation of photovoltaic solar energy.
Although it is true that the installed power in 2022, compared to 2016, has doubled, to 135 MW, still far from the levels seen in other neighboring countries.
And remember the article about what we will do with all the solar panels when they end their useful life … And by communities:
The reality is that companies in the photovoltaic sector maintain their position in the face of the instability of the regulatory framework in Spain and some funds even sue Spain before the US to pay for the arbitrations of renewables that they lost (HERE) … Will we have forceful changes from the administration?… Knowing that the photovoltaic sector generates more than 19,000 jobs in the country.
You can also read what happens if you live in a city that only uses renewable energy or how different renewable energies work with infographics.
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